Regional stakeholders meet to discuss future of PHAMA

Key representatives from government and the private sectors of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu are in Nadi this week for the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) Program* Coordinating Committee meeting.

The meeting will assess the performance of PHAMA’s work in export market facilitation in the 6 target countries.

PHAMA is an aid for trade program funded by the Australia and New Zealand government. It works with government representatives and the public and private sectors to promote Pacific exports of fresh and value-added agricultural products by helping exporters meet trading partners’ regulatory requirements and quality standards. PHAMA also provides technical assistance and funding to help governments and private sector partners open new market access, re-open and maintain existing access, and improve the quality of export commodities.

Opening the meeting today, PCC chair and Australian High Commission Counsellor, Matt Lapworth said, “PHAMA is one of the Australian Government’s key aid for trade investments in the Pacific, positively impacting growth and lives”.

The two-day meeting will also involve consultations by the design team for PHAMA Plus, the next phase of the program. The design team has visited various countries in recent weeks; gathering feedback from government and industry that will help shape the design of the next phase of the program.

Last year PHAMA launched an impact report which revealed the program has had a positive impact on an estimated 142,200 livelihoods and 5,600 jobs in the Pacific. Outputs by PHAMA include new market access submissions, improvements to trade infrastructure, treatment protocols, food safety accreditation and the introduction of quality standards.

*The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) Program is an Australian Government initiative, co-funded by the New Zealand Government. PHAMA is designed to help Pacific island countries better manage and utilise opportunities to export primary products including fish and forestry products. Australia and New Zealand are markets of major importance, along with export markets beyond the Pacific. The core countries assisted through PHAMA are Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. PHAMA is implemented on behalf of the Australian Government by AECOM.

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